Latest news

DEVILS FINISH OFF SEASON WITH A WIN OVER JESTERS

The Devils finished off their season with a win over the Milton Keynes Jesters in a friendly at Alexandra Palace.

The Devils started brightly with early goals from Frank Walshe and James Mulligan. Misha Neizvestnov added a third when he finished off a beautiful three-way passing play with linemates Walter Sheloff and Gennadi Yufit. The Jesters did not lie down however, and scored one of their own before the period was out.

Devils' goalie Shane Kemp, who was filling in for the Jesters on the night, kept things close throughout as he made save after save. His counterpart, and teammate, Oleg Adamchuk had less work to do in the other end, but was there when called upon as always.

Thanks to Kemp, the score remained 3-1 for a long time before Sheloff made it four in the second period. It was not until the third period that the Jesters and Kemp finally ran out of steam and the Devils scored four third period goals to run away with it. Walshe and Neizvestnov finished with two each, and Mulligan had his customary hat-trick.

All in all a good way to end the season and many thanks go out to the Jesters for coming down for the match. The Devils will return to the ice in September.

DEVILS SOUTH SECURE FIRST BODEAN'S CUP TITLE WITH SHUT-OUT WIN

Devils South scored an impressive 5-0 victory over the East-West to finally get their hands on the Bodean's Cup. Two goals each for Baptiste Frioux and Richard Veinot, coupled with a solid shut-out for Shane Kemp, brought the cup south of the river for the first time in the competition's ten-year history.

Both sides lined up with a few big names missing from their rosters - and a slightly choppy start ensued. EW got into penalty trouble early with two soft hooking calls giving the South an early 5 on 3 power play. Devils rookie Misha Neizvestnov capitalised on the man advantage by scoring at close range and the South were up 1-0. There would be no more scoring in the first period, mostly down to the fine goaltending of Oleg Adamchuk in the EW net.

Both teams traded chances throughout the second period with the South having most of the play, in spite of three powerplays for the EW. Ian Williams' holding penalty at the end of the second period meant that the third would start with the EW on the PP with the score still extremely tight at 1-0.

Early in the third period however, Baptiste Frioux struck a dagger in the heart of the EW when he pounced on a turnover in the EW zone and scored a solo shorthanded goal to make it 2-0. He would make it 3-0 a bit later in the period and the heads of the EW side began to drop. There was a lifeline in the form of another powerplay with over ten minutes left to play, but once again the EW coughed up the puck in a dangerous area and the South popped in another shorthanded goal. This time it was Richard Veinot - a member of Devils South since day one, who was desperate to get his hands on the cup. Veinot sealed the deal late in the period with his second of the night and all that was left was to watch the clock tick down to zero.

The jubilant South paraded the elusive Bodean's Cup around the ice with pride. For many of the players - Blais, Donnelly, Maloney, Maugile, Veinot - this was their tenth season playing for the South, and it was no surprise that celebrations went well into the night.

DEVILS E-W HOLD ON TO ADVANCE TO CUP FINAL

Devils East-West survived a valiant comeback attempt by the North in order to advance to their ninth Bodean's Cup final in ten years. A 4-0 lead was slowly whittled away to 4-3, but the North could not score the crucial equaliser which would have been enough to advance.

Devils EW started strongly, Chris Huston scoring off a rebound from their first shot on goal. It wouldn't be long until it was 2-0 when Gary Reid's shot deflected in off a North defender. The North tried to steady the ship, but the EW kept coming. It was scoring sensation Johan Bergstrom who made it 3-0 when he scored into the top corner. 3-0 after the first period and the North was left desperately trying to get back into the game - if it wasn't already too late.

They were dealt another blow early in the second period when Andrew Gilbert went streaking down the right wing and scored a wrister through the five hole to make it 4-0.

The North needed a break, and they finally got one when Matti Konsala's bad-angle shot bounced up high and trickled down the back of EW goalie Oleg Adamchuk. They then got some more luck when James Mulligan's wrap-around sneaked in the far side despite some uncertainty about the call from the ref.

It would be Mulligan on the scoresheet again, as the EW appeared to be rattled by their dodgy luck. 4-3 and we had a game on our hands.

In the third period it appeared that Mulligan had completed his hat-trick, and his team's remarkable comeback, when his close-in shot looped up and over a prone Adamchuk. The Beast had other ideas however, and he made the save of the season when he kicked his back heel upwards in a "scorpion" motion to kick the goal-bound shot away from danger.

After killing a couple of untimely penalties, the North mounted one final push - knowing that a tie would be enough for them to advance to the cup final. The goalie was pulled and the pressure was on. The Beast was equal to each North attempt and the EW defence held the fort admirably. The comeback would fall just short and EW was in the final once again.

The EW will face Devils South on 8th June at Alexandra Palace in the cup final.